Ralph David Morton

Ralph David “Dave” Morton, 84, was a lifelong resident of Wall Township. He was born to Wilbur and Mary Morton in the Allenwood section of Wall Township in the house he was raised in on Atlantic Avenue. Growing up, Dave worked on the Morton family farm in Allenwood and his father worked on the railroad, part of which is now the Manasquan bike path. Dave passed away on January 18th in the home of his devoted wife, Barbara, in Florham Park, NJ. In his final days he was surrounded by his loving family members and died peacefully in his sleep. Dave attended Allenwood Elementary School and went on to graduate from Manasquan High School in the days before Wall had its own high school. He was known by the nickname “Bunny” by those that knew him growing up due to his being born on Easter in 1935. Dave went on to a long career with Bell Labs and AT&T and was a loyal “Company Man” in Telecommunications sales and Division Manager working across many locations in New Jersey. His early interests were boats, water skiing, and cars. Once he was married, his focus was on advancing his career to support his wife and children and taking summer vacations in their pop-up camper from New York to Florida. He also usually found a way to continue his love for boating. The Adirondacks was a particularly important place to him. He and his family spent many memorable days there on Sherman Pond and at his vacation home on Loon Lake.

Dave was predeceased by his parents Wilbur and Mary and his first wife of 58 years, Catherine “Kay” Morton, who passed away in 2014, as well as his siblings Marian, Wilbur, Edith, and Gene. Surviving are his wife Barbara Talty, sons Stephen (wife Robin) of Bel Air, Md, Brian (wife Kelly) of Howell, daughter Karen (husband Tom) Jensen of Wall, and Barbara’s daughters Cara Talty of Summit, and Elizabeth (husband Chris) LeDonne of Boonton Twp. Also, grandchildren Thomas, Samantha, Matthew, Christopher, Alexander, Madison, Joshua, Connor, Declan, Maren, Gia, and Conor. As well as nieces Patricia Toey, of Manasquan, Kathleen (husband Donald) Steger, of Manasquan and nephews Christopher Steger (wife Lauren), of Manchester Twp, and Timothy (wife Gretchen) Steger, of Manasquan.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 4 – 7 pm at Orender Family Home for Funerals, 2643 Old Bridge Road, Manasquan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am, Saturday, January 25th at St. Denis Church, 90 Union Ave., Manasquan. Interment will follow Mass at St. Catharine Cemetery, 1100 W. Chicago Blvd., Sea Girt, NJ. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St Judes Children’s Hospital or a charity of their choice in Dave’s honor. To send condolences to the family please visit www.orenderfamilyhome.com.